Things to do in New York City

New York City offers world-class museums and galleries, unparalleled music and theater, 1,700+ parks, and myriad other activities. Boredom? Not an op... Read More

New York City offers world-class museums and galleries, unparalleled music and theater, 1,700+ parks, and myriad other activities. Boredom? Not an option.

More than anything, New York is a city of neighborhoods, each with its own distinct history and personality: the stately apartment buildings and tony shops of the Upper East Side, the bustling, crooked streets of Chinatown, the blend of storied waterfront and new construction in downtown Brooklyn. Each neighborhood can—and should—be explored on foot; a day passed wandering New York City streets is always a day well spent.

Of course, there’s so much more to do in the city besides walking. In fact, most visitors can recite from memory a list of New York’s tried-and-true tourist stand-bys: Times Square, Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, MoMA, the Met, the Museum of Natural History, Yankee Stadium. No one needs to be told that these iconic attractions are worth a visit: they are and they always will be. But to really immerse yourself in the city, with its energy and wit and incomparable blend of cultures, we suggest veering off the well-trodden path

Art lovers, for example, might want to check out Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City, the Milk Gallery in Chelsea, or the Park Avenue Armory on the Upper East Side. Music fans can scope out emerging talents at Mercury Lounge on the Lower East Side, catch a show at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) in Fort Greene, or just walk through Washington Square Park—informal live concerts are legion on sunny days. Film buff? Head to the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria or the one-of-a-kind Nitehawk Cinema in Williamsburg, where you can sip a craft cocktail while you watch a movie. From comedy shows and hidden parks to flea markets and exclusive boutiques, our favorite things to do in NYC are an eclectic mix of can’t-miss classics and beloved local haunts.